An Arik Air domestic flight travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt was diverted to Benin Airport on Wednesday after the flight crew reported a loud bang from the aircraft’s left engine, prompting precautionary safety measures and an unscheduled landing.
The affected aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 with registration number 5N-MJF, was carrying about 80 passengers when the incident occurred. According to Arik Air, the operating crew heard a loud noise from the left engine while approaching Port Harcourt, leading the pilots to divert the aircraft to Benin as a precautionary measure. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers and crew disembarked without injury. It also stated that arrangements were made to transport passengers to their final destination and apologised for the disruption to their travel plans, emphasising that passenger safety remains its top priority.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau confirmed the incident and described it as an in-flight engine anomaly. The bureau stated that the flight crew detected abnormal engine indications during the flight and carried out a precautionary engine shutdown in line with established safety procedures before diverting to the nearest suitable airport. The aircraft subsequently landed in Benin without further incident, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally. Preliminary observations at the diversion airport indicated significant damage to the affected engine, although officials stressed that these findings were initial and subject to further technical analysis. 
In line with its statutory mandate and international aviation standards under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the bureau announced the commencement of a formal investigation into the occurrence. An assessment team was deployed to Benin to secure the aircraft, document evidence, interview relevant personnel and witnesses, and recover data from the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The bureau stated that it is working with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Arik Air, and other stakeholders to determine the sequence of events and contributing factors behind the engine anomaly. It added that a preliminary report will be released within 30 days, while a final report will be issued at the conclusion of the investigation. 
For now, authorities have reassured the public that there were no casualties and that the situation was handled in accordance with established aviation safety standards, with further updates expected as more information becomes available from the ongoing investigation.
Samuel Aina